Engine-starter.



G. M. LEECH.

ENGINE STARTER.

APPLICATION rum) mom, 1912.

Patented 31, 1914.

2 SHEBTS-SHEET 1.

mm Jul 6 e a 0 FATE FTC.

CHARLES M. LEECH, OF LIMA, OHIO.

ENGIN Iii-STARTER.

i ,osn,51o.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented M21133], 1914.

Application filed August 27, 1912. Serial No. 717,323.

To a?! whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Cnnnnns M. LEECII, a citizen of the United States,residing at Lima, in the county of Allen and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Engine-Starters, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to pneumatic means for cranking orstarting an internal combustion engine.

An important object of the invention is to provide means of the abovementioned character, which are automatic in operation, simple inconstruction, durable, and cheap to manufacture.

A further object of the invention is to provide means of the abovementioned character, so constructed that when the same is at rest, itwill not interfere with the proper operation of the engine.

In the practice of my invention I provide a device which is adapted tosupply compressed air or the like to one side of the piston, to move thesame in one direction. When the piston starts on its opposite movement,the device is automatically operated to out ofi? the supply ofcompressed air and exhaust the compressed air which has previously movedthe piston.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame, Figure l is a central vertical sectional view through an engineequipped-with my improved structure, Fig. 2 is a central verticalsectional view through the device, showing the sliding valve in itsintermediate position to establish communication between the interior ofthe crank case and the atmosphere, Fig. 3 is a similar view, showing thesliding valve in its uppermost position, to supply compressed air intothe crank case, and, Fig. 4 is a similar view, showing the sliding valvein its lowermost position, the device being at rest and serving as meansfor allowing the free passage of air into or out of the crank (fuse,

In the drawings wherein, for the purpose of illustration, I have shown apreferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 designates anexplosion cylinder of an internal combustion engine, provided with inletand exhaust ports 6 and 7. Mounted to reciprocate within the cylinder 5is a hollow piston 8, provided at its lower end with an auxiliary piston9, of greater diameter than the cylinder 5, as shown. The auxiliarypiston 9 operates within a lower casing 10. connected with the cylinder5 at its upper end and with a closed crank case 11 at its lower end.Extending into the piston S a pitman 12, connected therewith by means61: a pin 13. The pitman 12 is connected at its lower end with a crank12 by a pin 15. This crank is rigidly connected with the crank shaft 16,as is customary. As no claim is made to the construction of the engineper sc, it is thought that the above description will sufiice.

The crank case 11 is provided with an tion 18 of a shell included in myimproved starter. The shell comprises an pppcr contractcd portion 19,which is preferably cast integral with the large portion 18. Thecontracted portion 19 extends downwardly within the large portion 18, isshown at 20.

Mounted to reciprocate within the contracted portion 19 a sliding valve21, provided with an opening or recess 22, as shown. The sliding valve91 is connected with a stem 23, extending through an opening in theupper end of the contracted portion 19. A compressible coil spring 2%surrounds the stcm :22, within the contracted portion 19 of the shelland serves to force the sliding valve '21 (lowuwnrdly. Connected withthe upper end oi" the stem 23 is a roller 25, which is adapted to engagea cam 27, rigidly mounted upon the crank shaft 16.

Formed through the large portion 18 of the shell is an auxiliary exhaustport 28, which leads into the interior of the contracted portion 19, asshown at A transverse port serves to establish communication between theinterior of the crank case and the interior of the portion 20 of theshell. Formed through the large portion 18 of the shell is a breathingport 31, having communication with an opening 32. The sliding valve 21is provided near its upper adapted to be moved into registration with 21is in its lowermost position, as shown in Fig. t. A pipe 33 leads intothe breathing port 31.

The numeral 34 designates a pressure storage tank, containing compressedair or the like. Connected with this tank is a pipe opening 17, toreceive a lower enlarged porend with a transverse port 33, which is theopening only when the sliding valve openi11g 22, opening the pipe is a vshell 36 and a swing therein. This valve is turned h s. 38. The velieprovided Wit),

of the pipe 35, who] is supplied to the star also provided with. so ie20, leading into the main ening 39. The 36 is provided with a smallopening il, dis posed at a right angle to main openings Attention calledto the fact hatthe starter disposed to one side of the 14, so that itdoes not in any Way interfere with the operation of t gins.

The operation es in? dc is fol.- lowss-ll hen the valve is c osed, asshown in l ig. 4;, the f the sliding valve 521 to its "owermostposition. The interior of tie ennk case 13. is now in free communicationwith the'pipe e: is

7 0o whereby air passes r ,lyinto and out of said crank case during theinovez'nent' of the pie ton. In the ordinary multiple cylinder 611 g'inethe pipe 33 serves to couple all the crank together, whereby they are incommunication during the operation of the engine. ll place one oi mystarting zipperetuses Within each crankcase, the same having suitableconnection with the common pressure supply pip-e above thevalvesteuctnre it is thoiwht that as these starting eppzimtuses are itlillCiLl only one need be shown descri? d in application. Attention. isc: led to the feet that any compressed air ((f:"3li':-if Il=Cl Withinthe pipe 85 shove the valve is free to exhaust to the atmosphere throughon :20, and L1. The "eng may now considered at rest. To start the handle38 is swung to move the valve 37 to its open position. Goings ed air lthe pipe and foices the sliding upwardly, to assume position shown inFig. 3. The comgnes M through the port ZOinto the crank case on' forcesthe piston upwzi-Tcllb hen the piston reaches its eppermost posit on thecam 27 has been turned so that its large portion engages the "Wheel todownwardly to assume it. intermediat he he sition, shown in l? 2. Thecompresscc 8-11 Within the crank case 1 will new on:

lmust to the atmosphere through port 30,

and port- Et 1s n will I he allowed to thus seen that the 0 movedownwardly. "the 7 reaches its lowermost peel-J11, compro air is againintroduced the crank case shell air now passes with the lower end l isval is closed, si sequently to which the spying will move the slidingvalve 21 to its loi ei'most position, as shown in Fig. l.

the valve 21 is in its lowermost positio-., the interior of the crankcase 11 is in. free communication with pipe through ports 30, 2rd, 53and 3]., Wheeloy the interior of the crank-case will he in communieticnwith the atmosphere or in breathing communication With the othercronlz-cese or crzmlz-eases. v

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown anddescribed is to he taken as a preferred example of the some and thatcertain changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may heresorted to Without departing from the spirit of the invent-ion or thescope of the subclaim:

1. The combination with an internal cembiistion engine comp-listing acylinder, :1 piston operating therein, e closed crank case, crank shaft,pitnian connecting the piston and crzml: shaft, of means to supplycompressed into the case to move said piston in one direction, and meansautomatically operated by the movement of the piston to cut the supplyof compressed air from the crank case and establish conimonicationbetween the interior oi": the same and the atmosphere, so that thepiston. may move in a reverse direction.

2. Thece nhine. ion with the closed crank case of an internal combustionengine, of means for supplying compressed air into the same, and meansoperated by such compressed ill to establish communication he I 4 l a nq i x I u I 1 tween L118 lllterlQl or the 01 not C1156 and toeatmosphere.

' The combination with the closed-crank case of an internal combustionengine, of means for supplying compressed air into the same for startingthe engine, and auto mst-ieally operated means to cut 05 the sup ply ofcompressed air Item the crank case. and place the interior of the crankcase in communication witlithe atmosphere.

l. The combination with an internal combustion engine comprising acylinder, e piston a closed crank case. a crank shaft andto foi ce thesame upwardly. The operation l sliding valve, and means to supplycompressed air into the shell to move the sliding I valveinopposition'to the spring.

5. The combinationwith an internal comb'ustion engine comprising acylinder, a piston, a closed crank case, a crank shaft, and a pitman, ofa device to start the engine comprising, a shell having a breathingport, an inlet port leading into the crank case,

nd an exhaust port leading to'the atmos pherc, a sliding valve mountedwithin said shell and provided with transverse and lon gitudinalopenings, a spring to move the valve in one direction, means forsupplying compressed air into the shell to move the valve in a reversedirection, and means operated by the crank shaft of the engine to movesaid valve.

6. The combination with an internal combustion engine comprising acylinder, a closed crank case connected with the lower end thereof, acrank shaft mounted within the crank case, a piston mounted within thecylinder and a pitman connecting the piston and crank shaft; of a devicemounted within the closed crank case upon one side of the crank shaftand adapted to supply compressed air into the crank case upon the upstroke of the piston and 'cut 01? the supply of compressed air from thecrank case and establish communication'between the same and theatmosphere upon the down stroke of the piston; and a device mounted uponthe crank shaft to automatically operate the device.

7. The combination-with an internal combustion engine comprising acylinder and piston operating therein, of a starting device to supplycompressed air within the cylinder to move the piston in one directionand to alternately establish communication between the interior-of thecylinder and the atmosphere, comprising a shell provided with inlet andexhaust ports, a sliding valve mounted within the shell and adapted tobe moved to a position for connecting the inlet and exhaust ports and toanother position for disconnecting them and uncovering the inletport, aspring to move the sliding valve in one direction, and a pressure supplypipe leading into the shell near one end of the sliding valve to supplypressure therein to move the valve in opposition to the spring.

8. The combination with the crank-case of an internal combustion engine,of apparatus disposed near the crank-case to start the engins bycompressed air or other fluid,'comprising a shell provided with abreathing port, an exhaust port, and a pressure inlet port, and meanswhereby the ports are selectively placed in communication with theinterior of the crank-case.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence 0 two witnesses.

CHARLES M. LEEOH.

Witnesses: v e

W. J. Brenna, CLARENCE C. MILLER.

